by Moondog, The World According to Moondog
I may be in the minority, but I'm glad Manny Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers in a three-team deal just minutes before the trade deadline. Earlier this week, Ramirez was quoted as saying in part, "the Red Sox don't deserve me."
Manny was right. The Red Sox no longer deserved him.
According to reports, Red Sox owner John Henry, General Manager Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona felt the time had come to move Ramirez. The organization cited the distractions and lack of hustle as reasons for moving the future Hall of Famer.
I'm going to pose one simple question. If the Red Sox were up by 10 games in the AL East, would they have traded Manny?
No. Not only no but hell no. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Over the past five seasons no team in the majors has enjoyed more success than the Red Sox. When Boston won the World Series in 2004 and again in 2007, wasn't Manny just as distracting during those seasons?
I'm not defending Ramirez' lack of hustle, but to suggest the distractions he created were no longer tolerable is the lamest of excuses. The Red Sox traded Manny because of money and their obvious intention to let him test the free agent market at the conclusion of this season.
With Boston struggling to gain a spot in the AL playoffs, trading the one player that has consistently produced isn't going to help your cause. Despite the fact newly acquired leftfielder Jason Bay has comparable numbers to Ramirez this season, he isn't going to make the Red Sox better.
Now the Dodgers are the beneficiary of Ramirez' presence in their lineup, a player they desperately needed. Los Angeles will have a legitimate opportunity to win the dismal NL West and reach the playoffs, something the Red Sox might not do this season.
It wouldn't come as a surprise to see Ramirez go on a tear over the last two months of the season. Being well-motivated to prove his former team made a terrible mistake is something Manny would relish.
I'm hopeful Ramirez sends the Red Sox a post card from L.A., with him on the beach, surrounded my thong-wearing Playboy Bunnies and having his favorite beverage with a caption that reads. "Manny being Manny. So long assholes."
Friday, August 1, 2008
MANNY WAS RIGHT - RED SOX DIDN'T DESERVE HIM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Subscribe to the Epic Carnival
2 comment(s):
Alright, first off.. Manny created distractions during other seasons but nothing quite as drastic as pushing down an old man (which happens to be well-liked by everyone else in the clubhouse.) That probably created a bit of animosity.
Also, what do you mean by "the Red Sox traded Manny because of money?" What in the world does money have to do with it?
Part of the reason they let Manny go was due to clubhouse distractions, but Manny was made an example of because he was not the only one.
I also believe they did it to save money. Because with their payroll being one of the highest, they are having trouble catching the Rays with one of the lowest. Buying championships don't always work.
Post a Comment